Born in Evanston, IL; educated at the American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco, and Juilliard (drama). This fresh-faced actress made an impressive screen debut as a teenager who reaches out to troubled youth Timothy Hutton in ORDINARY PEOPLE (1980). Stardom seemed to be in the offing, and she earned an Oscar® nomination the following year as the notorious Victorian-era trollop Evelyn Nesbit in RAGTIME (1981), then was paired with Dudley Moore in the romantic comedy LOVESICK (1983) and Sean Penn in RACING WITH THE MOON (1984), and had a plum part in Sergio Leone's sprawling ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA (also 1984). But none of these were smash hits, to say the least, and McGovern's growing fondness for "interesting" parts and films-rather than mainstream success-steered her in a different direction than might have been anticipated. Aside from THE BEDROOM WINDOW (1987) and SHE'S HAVING A BABY (1988), McGovern has eschewed conventional Hollywood offerings to work on stage, and pursue offbeat film projects, often in supporting roles. She was a scenestealer in THE HANDMAID'S TALE (1990) and had a showy part as a prostitute in KING OF THE HILL (1993). Other notable credits include NATIVE SON (1986), THE FAVOR (1994), WINGS OF COURAGE (1995), THE WINGS OF THE DOVE (1997), THE MAN WITH RAIN IN HIS SHOES and THE MISADVENTURE OF MARGARET (both 1998), MANILA and THE HOUSE OF MIRTH (both 2000), BUFFALO SOLDIERS (2001), THE TRUTH (2006), and ART IN LAS VEGAS (scheduled for 2008). She has also appeared in many made-for-television movies, and she had a recurring role as Laura Davis on the series "Three Moons Over Milford" (2006). McGovern married British television producer Simon Curtis in 1992. They have two children.  Nominated for Supporting Actress 1981: RAGTIME 1 nomination